Arrival/departure destination: Udaipur

Accommodation: 2 nights in hotels, 5 nights camping.

The Leopard Trail starts and ends in Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes’, known for the lavish royal palaces that crown its shores. The ochre and purple ridges of the wooded Aravalli Hills stretch away in every direction and rippling silhouettes of the city dance across the water. On day one you’ll be treated to a late afternoon boat trip around Lake Pichola, and on day two you’ll go sightseeing in the city before driving to Kumbhalgarh where, the following morning, you’ll visit the awe-inspiring Kumbhalgarh Fort. Then it’s time to meet the Marwaris! Your first ride takes you through a beautiful wooded sanctuary leading to Ghanerao Forest, home to a myriad of wildlife. 

Over the next four days, you’ll ride past the Aravali Ranges, various lakes, rivers and villages, farms, forests and plains. Finally, you’ll reach the banks of the Jawai Bandh dam, an enormous reservoir encapsulated by rugged hills and sandy river beds where leopards roam wild and free. This area is loved by people and animals alike: flamingos and cranes come in their hundreds in the springtime and nomadic herdsmen roam the grasslands with their flocks year-round. If you don’t spot any leopards from your horse’s back (or if you can’t get enough of these elusive felines!), you can head out in the jeeps for an evening leopard safari.

Arrival destination: Udaipur

Departure destination: Jodhpur

Accommodation: All nights in heritage castles, palaces or hotels (no camping).

Days 1 and 2 are spent visiting Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh Fort – see description in the Leopard Trail itinerary. After exploring Kumbhalgarh Fort and riding through the forests on day three, you’ll visit the Ghanerao Rawla, a 17th century castle built by the noble Rajput family whose descendants still live there. And guess what? It’s your hotel for the night, too!

From here, the journey takes in the villages, plains and foothills of the Aravalli Ranges, a spectacular marble temple, volcanic rock formations, more beautiful, boutique accommodations and, finally, the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort. Known as the Citadel of the Sun, this immense, 1,200-acre fort watches over Jodhpur from atop a steep hill. It encompasses several intricately carved palaces, serene courtyards and a fascinating museum. 

*A special edition of this ride runs from December 27th to January 3rd. It includes an unforgettable night of celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

Arrival destination: Udaipur

Departure destination: Jodhpur

Accommodation: 7 nights hotels, 5 nights camping.

This holiday combines the Leopard Trail and the Palace to Palace ride into a 13-day deep dive into Rajasthan. Starting in Udaipur, you’ll take in Kumbhalgarh Fort, the forests, lakes, villages and foothills outlined in the Leopard Trail (and of course the big cats themselves) before visiting the marble temple at Rankapur, Ghanerao Rawla (where you’ll also spend the night), various villages and stately hotels, and Mehrangarh Fort (see description in Palace to Palace itinerary).

*A special edition of this ride runs from March 15 to 27, 2024, coinciding with Holi – the Festival of Colours. It includes two incredible celebrations: Holika Dahan (a special dinner with a bonfire, religious rites and prayers, traditional music and performances) and Rangwali Holi, the famous free-for-all, explosive colour festival!

Arrival destination: Jodhpur

Departure destination: Udaipur

Accommodation: 4 nights hotels, 7 nights camping.

This 12-day itinerary takes the best parts of the Leopard Trail and adds in a number of local events that will give you a real taste of Rajasthani horse culture. Arriving in Jodhpur, you’ll visit Mehrangarh Fort (see description in Palace to Palace itinerary) and depart the next morning for Balotra Fair. This large yet non-touristy fair attracts people from all over Rajasthan looking to trade horses, camels and cattle.

Next you’ll ride from Kumbhalgarh Fort and the surrounding forest to Narlai, where the local Godwar Horse Show and Fair takes place over the following days. You’ll be able to take part in the gymkhana games with your Marwari if you like! There will be plenty of festivities full of colour, sound and fun.

Days 8, 9 and 10 return to the Leopard Trail itinerary, taking in the foothills of the Aravali Ranges, various lakes, rivers and villages, farms, forests and plains, and finally Jawai Bandh – leopard country. The ride ends with various sightseeing activities in Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes’.

**NB: Daytime temperatures will be HOT at circa 40 degrees Celcius/104 Fahrenheit

Arrival/departure destination: Jodhpur

Accommodation: 2 nights hotels, 4 nights camping.

This week-long trip starts and ends in Jodhpur, where you’ll explore Mehrangarh Fort (see description in Palace to Palace itinerary). But really, it’s all about the mystical Thar Desert. Covering 200,000 square kilometres, it’s the ancestral home of the Marwari horse and has a rich history hiding beneath the shifting sands. Starting in the village of Mathania, you’ll spend four days riding through the desert, where you might encounter Asian antelope, Indian gazelle and mongoose, among other creatures. You’ll see tiny hamlets with unique, thatched-roof mud huts, the historic oasis town of Osian with its 18 crumbling temples, and the village of Khichan, famous for the huge number of demoiselle cranes that migrate here from Mongolia every winter (October to March). From December to February, over 10,000 cranes call Khichan home!

Arrival destination: Udaipur

Departure destination: Jaipur

Accommodation: 4 nights hotels, 8 nights camping.

Bringing together the Leopard Trail and Thar Desert itineraries, the Magical Marwar tour also includes the vivid, chaotic spectacle that is Pushkar Fair. One of India’s biggest livestock fairs, it’s a cacophany of camels, horses, cattle, music, dancing, games and costumes. With your guides, you’ll get in amongst the bartering, chai sipping, tug-of-warring, performing, racing, shopping, whinnying and nickering. Fun fact: one of the main events is the ‘longest moustache’ competition!

Complimentary airport transfers are included upon arrival and departure. However please note, where your ride starts and ends will depend on the specific itinerary you are booked on. 

Please refer to the specific itinerary summary for confirmation of which city to fly into at the start and out from at the end of your ride.

Please contact Globetrotting for information on when to arrive/depart for your chosen ride.